Skyway RFID-only lane still under review by TRB

OPERATOR OF THE Skyway system said the proposal to have a “radio-frequency identification (RFID)-only” lane at the elevated toll road is still being reviewed by the government regulator.
In a statement over the weekend, San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which manages Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corp. (SOMCO) under its infrastructure business, said the plan to have RFID-only lanes for the Doña Soledad and Dr. A. Santos exits of the Skyway “is still being reviewed and will only be implemented upon approval by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).”
Once approved, SMC said the scheme is expected to bring “faster and more efficient throughput at elevated toll plazas” and benefit motorists due to the easing of road congestion.
Late last year, SOMCO issued a traffic advisory saying the Doña Soledad (Bicutan) and Dr. A. Santos (Sucat) exits will “soon” be exclusive to RFID users.
“The objective is to have the Skyway Elevated exclusive to RFID users to provide motorists the convenience they are paying a premium for,” SOMCO President Manuel M. Bonoan said in the statement.
However, Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon raised his opposition to the scheme during a Jan. 18 meeting with SOMCO and TRB officials.
“I raised the point of denying motorists the option of paying cash while using the Skyway, but they maintain their position that they will push through with the plan. We will have to get TRB to deny it if SOMCO doesn’t change its plan,” he said in a social media post.
Mr. Biazon noted that SOMCO admitted not having a traffic impact study on the proposed scheme and that the advisory is part of a “sensitivity analysis” to gauge the feedback of stakeholders.
“I believe that with the franchise given to SOMCO by the government, there should be equal access by all motorists. In addition, they should make sure that any scheme they implement should not be detrimental to the interests of those using roadways that would be affected by their plans,” he said.
For his part, SOMCO’s Mr. Bonoan said the Skyway Management “continues to look for ways to help ease traffic congestion and make daily drives faster, safer and convenient for motorists.”
The operations and maintenance of the part of Skyway linking to the Bicutan-to-Sucat section is handled by SOMCO, with concession-holder Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC). — Denise A. Valdez